Fan hog

Can't see it but the big barn fan is behind that blue gate. Pennelope backs her big butt up to all the goats and sheep when she wants to be cool, they run. The heat doesn't even bother her, but she likes that air blowing in her hair. This mini horse is loaded with personality, it was good karma that brought her here, and me going all over GA and SC looking for her. She was a hidden treasure waiting to be found. She had another name, can't remember what it was, but she was not happy with her previous life, never handled, no grazing, bad hay, no barn, no spoiling, no catching me. Now she runs her own ranch and life is grand for Pennelope.

Hen and kitties

These kittens are getting so playful and try their best to catch the hens, of course they are just practicing for all the mice catching they will do this winter to earn their keep. How hot is it? It is so hot the hens are walking aound the pasture with their wings spread out. The pullets are in full laying mode, the older hens are slowing down for the molt, so I am getting plenty of eggs, just mostly small ones.

Stevia

I grew a few Stevia plants in the garden this year, one of the few plants that loves heat and full sun. They are drying on the screens then will be stored in jars. The leaves are very sweet and contain no calories and do not spike your blood sugar like corn syrup. Grown and used mostly in South America. What a good idea.

Wag in the shade

I think today may have been the hottest day we've had, everyone sure was panting, even Wag was hot in the shade. Refilled all the water tanks with cool water around 6PM, just before everyone started moving about. Visitors drop by here in the middle of the day and ask where are all your sheep, well, they are smart enough to graze at night and find the coolest spot on the farm during the heat of the day, then as the day starts to cool down, you will find them going to the water tanks then back out to graze. Sheep aren't really hanging around waiting for visitors, they have grazing to do.

Tanner

When I went out yesterday afternoon Tanner was in the back yard grazing, she had let herself out of her barn. She has come to the back door many times, looking for me, jumping up to look through the window and screaming for me. Dairy goats are nothing like angoras. Very vocal about what is going on and everytime they hear the back door open it gets started. They are climbers, can never leave a bucket of grain sitting on the barn ledge or fence post without it being knocked over. And they are bossy, it's all about me, me, me. Sort of like a Barbie doll, they eat huge amounts of feed and stay rail thin and big busted. If there were mirrors hanging in the barn, they would all be standing in front of them.

cloudy today

Cloudy most of the day and a little cooler. The sheep were at their barn early this morning waiting for the small bite of grain they get, just enough to get a head count and make sure everyone is okay. They really enjoyed the cool breeze blowing through the trees. I know they are looking forwad to fall as much as I am. They too spend a lot of grazing time under the wild cherry trees waiting for windfalls. The wool on the Cormo yearlings  seems  long and heavy, very fast growing since shearing in April. I wonder if they are preparing for a cold winter.

More fruit of the vine, er bush

Elderberries are ready to pick and lots of them. I'll blend the juice with other wild fruit , blackberry and muscadine to make jelly this fall when the muscies are ripe. This was the year of the berry, all the wild fruit vines have been overloaded. And the Japenese beetles have not been that bad, just lots of briers and chiggers. There maybe enough fruit this year to make wine, I haven't made it in years. Most of the time my recipe makes wine and sometimes it turns to the best vinegar you ever tasted, maybe I'll make wild berry vinegar and forget the wine. I have options.